Computer and Information Research Scientists pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $227,300 or more. The middle half of computer and information research scientists in Los Angeles earn between $104,470 and $189,260.
- $81K10th
- $104K25th
- $156KMedian
- $189K75th
- $227K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $159,710 | $13,309 | $76.78 |
| Median | $155,960 | $12,997 | $74.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $104,470 | $8,706 | $50.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $189,260 | $15,772 | $90.99 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Computer and Information Research Scientists pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Computer and information research scientists in Los Angeles earn 5% less than the California average ($168,580) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($153,930). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $140,300.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $159,710 | $155,960 | $81,450 | $227,300 | 940 |
| California | $168,580 | $159,100 | $88,920 | $275,320 | 8,440 |
| United States | $153,930 | $140,300 | $82,200 | $230,630 | 37,200 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Computer and Information Research Scientists salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $159,710, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $109,667 a year, or $9,139 a month and $4,218 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for computer and information research scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $159,710 buys what about $140,632 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer and Information Research Scientists salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 5th of 9 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($216,560).
- San Jose$216,560
- San Francisco$175,510
- Santa Maria$173,060
- Sacramento$163,410
- Los Angeles$159,710
- Riverside$139,320
- San Diego$132,100
- Bakersfield$122,720
- Oxnard$119,940
All Computer and Information Research Scientists salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for computer and information research scientists
Portland, OR pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($223,160).
- Portland, OR$223,160
- San Jose, CA$216,560
- Seattle, WA$203,260
- Phoenix, AZ$195,400
- New York, NY$194,390
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Computer and Information Research Scientists salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do computer and information research scientists make an hour in Los Angeles?
$76.78 an hour on average, and $74.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer and information research scientists salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $104,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer and information research scientists take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $109,667 a year ($9,139 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $159,710. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do computer and information research scientists earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than the U.S. average for this job ($153,930).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-1221; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.63, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.63).
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